As a Belmont resident and taxpayer, I am troubled by the decision to appoint an out‑of‑state police chief while longstanding expectations that public safety leaders live within a reasonable distance of our town appear to be treated too flexibly.
We were told that internal candidates were valued, yet none made the final round, despite officers themselves stressing the importance of institutional knowledge and internal advancement for morale and retention.
I ask the Select Board to explain how residency requirements are being applied in this case, what steps will ensure the chief establishes a genuine stake in this community, and how the town plans to support internal candidates so residents are not left feeling that our rules and our trust are secondary to what appears to be a predetermined outcome.
In a time when confidence in institutions is fragile, I hope the Select Board will treat this as an opportunity to rebuild trust with residents through transparency, consistency, and genuine accountability.”
Azra Nelson, Vincent Avenue